Central and Southern Maine are the best locations to see colorful foliage through the coming week, these area’s are close to or very near peak according to the 2012 fall foliage report from the Maine Department of Conservation.

Color Zone Map

Maine Forest Service and state park rangers are reporting past peak leaf color in zones 5 through 7 of the state’s seven tracking zones, but pockets of remarkable color can still be seen in the Kennebec Valley region along Route 201 and in Cumberland and York counties in southern Maine. Leaf drop in these regions is currently 30 to 50 percent, rangers say.

I went out for one of my rare October drives this Tuesday on Route 5 heading toward Fryeburg and the White Mountains to see some of the Fall colors and check out some of the wooden covered bridges along the way. I was surprised to still see an abundance of bright colors and leaves still on the trees. I am usually here attending to guests here at the Atlantic Birches Inn a Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast, for most of the October leaf-peeping season. I was amazed at the brilliance of leaf color even at higher elevations. Along the beach here in Old Orchard Beach many of the trees are very near their color potential. We have Ash, Maple, Birch and Oak trees on our property that are in their full Fall display of bright fall colors. The road that we are located all the trees are orangingy, red and yellow Crayola Crayon shades that over-shadows all other leaf colors.

Portland Head Light

Numerous guests have taken area drives on scenic drives along coastal route 9 to Kennebunkport and Ogunquit and Cape Neddick to see Nubble Light and to Route 5 toward the White Mountains, this past week and brought back spectacular photos of waterfalls, swimming-holes, covered wooden bridges, landscapes, hiking trails, and all the photos bore a palette of bright colors.

Never mind the experts. We have gotten the word straight from the source, our guests: The leaves are still on the trees and that the show will go on for another week or two. Don’t miss them.

The leaves are changing here in Southern Maine and families from all over are celebrating Autumns arrival in towns all across Maine. by attending craft and country fairs, apple and pumpkin picking along with fun and unique ways to experience the beauty of the fall season –from hot air ballooning, hopping on the Mail boat sailing on Casco Bay or taking a scenic drive to explore some of Maine’s wooden covered bridges and Maine

Wooden Covered Bridge

coastline or traveling down some of the popular trail maps(breweries, wineries, wooden bridges, antiquing, apple picking, Christmas tree farms, birding, lighthouse, walking and bicycling ) we have put together for our guests. Come to Old Orchard Beach and let us the Atlantic Birches Inn show you the Better Way to Stay and how you can explore and enjoy the fall foliage from every angle this season.

Portland Head Lighthouse

Below are links for the trail maps we have created to help you navigate and enjoy the Maine Foliage.